. >>> president obama nominated massachusetts senator john kerry to be the next secretary of state. president obama praised him. >> over these many years he earned the respect and confidence of leaders around the world. she not going a need a lot of on the job training. he earned the respect and trust of colleagues. democrats and republicans. >> john kerry is a five term senator and the chair of the senate foreign relations committee and a war veteran. secretary of state hillary clinton could not attend the ceremony. she is recovering from the flu and a concussion from a fall. >>> the christmas holiday began on capitol hill without an agreement reached on how to avoid the fiscal cliff. president obama called on party leaders to take action before he left for his holiday vacation in hawaii. >> good afternoon. >> reporter: after speaking with leaders friday afternoon president obama called on congress to quickly come up with a solution to avert some tax hikes and spending cuts. >> i have asked leaders to work towards a package that presents a tax hike, protects unemployment insurance,